Written by Sebastian Acosta<\/p>\n
Oceanside\u2019s General Plan is being pushed for its first revision since the plan’s creation in the 1970s.<\/span><\/p>\n Often referred to as a \u201cblueprint for growth,\u201d the General Plan outlines where construction can be done in the city and under what guidelines it must adhere to.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOnly good, long-term planning will allow Oceanside to accomplish its goals of economic prosperity, environmental quality and social equity,\u201d said Dennis Martinek, a former Oceanside planning commissioner, about the document\u2019s update.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Projects require an amendment if they do not conform with the outline set by the General Plan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cLong term planning should recognize that sprawl development is costly to citizens, results in traffic congestions, and causes global warming,\u201d Martinek goes on to say. \u201cThe city\u2019s decision-makers should not cave in to those who want short-term financial gain at Oceanside taxpayer\u2019s expense.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n While most cities update their General Plan every 20 to 25 years, Oceanside has been behind. According to Russ Cunningham, the city\u2019s principal planner, some elements have been added over time to conform to state requirements. Safety, noise, and environmental elements, however, have not seen an update for many decades.<\/span><\/p>\n Land use and circulation elements are expected to be integrated into a single element called \u201cmobility,\u201d in the new update.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The update\u2019s \u201cSmart and Sustainable Corridors Specific Plan\u201d will help set forth expectations for where future housing and job growth should occur.<\/span><\/p>\n The corridors plan will incentivize efficient land use and high-quality development within these areas, which should promote synergies between new housing and commercial uses, better access to essential goods and services, walkability, aesthetic improvements, and increased safety and security through activation of public spaces,\u201d Cunningham said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Oceanside\u2019s planning effort is largely funded by grants from both the state\u2019s Department of Transportation and Department of Housing and Community Development, the two of which promote development along transportation corridors.<\/span><\/p>\n However, some believe development should not be so heavily focused along Oceanside\u2019s commercial corridors.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe city would love to push all the high density on Oceanside Boulevard and Mission,\u201d said Nadine Scott, an attorney and community activist. \u201cBut there\u2019s only so much adequate infrastructure. An inventory needs to be taken of the relative age of water, sewer, electrical, telephone and cable capabilities.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n